Hazards of the intensive care unit.

Complications arise in the introduction, maintenance, and use of devices for life support and monitoring in an intensive care unit. Since recognition of such complications is frequently difficult in this clinical setting, the radiologist is often in a position to be the first to detect complications associated with the use of endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, Swan-Ganz catheters, subclavian catheters, central venous pressure catheters, and intra-aortic balloons.